by Cole Martin
STEVE Cooper’s Swans will be hoping to rectify their disappointing home form as they host promotion rivals Fulham under the lights.
All of Swansea’s defeats this season have come at the Liberty Stadium. It is their formidable away record that has kept them in touch with the league’s front-runners.
Fulham are undefeated in their previous three matches. Manager Scott Parker will be hoping for his sides new-found consistency to persist, after being deprived of it during the early stages of the season.
Team News
A fixture congestion led to Cooper making changes for the midweek draw away to Huddersfield. The Welshman could be forced to do so again after Mike Van Der Hoorn sustained an ankle injury up in Yorkshire, and was withdrawn at half time.
Van Der Hoorn’s absence could pave the way for a first start for promising youngster Ben Cabango, who replaced the Dutchman on Tuesday night. Cabango impressed during a successful loan-spell with Welsh champions The New Saints last season.
🗣️ “He played really well with and without the ball, and he had a good round of applause from the lads in the dressing room."
The gaffer on @SkyBetChamp debutant @BenCabango 💪
📝 https://t.co/E6NuDQplEq pic.twitter.com/nW4jKwTTrx
— Swansea City AFC (@SwansOfficial) November 27, 2019
The Wales U21 international would face a gruelling task if he makes the Swans side. Aleksandar Mitrovic, who leads the league with 13 goals, will be his opposite man.
Fulham, however, also face injury woes as influential players Anthony Knockaert (ankle) and Bobby Decordova-Reid (hamstring) were also injured during midweek, and are likely to miss out.
Parker also faces an anxious wait on a late-fitness test for Harry Arter. Arter spent last season on loan at Swansea’s bitter rivals Cardiff City.
Aldo Kalulu, Joe Rodon and Jordan Garrick still remain out with long-term injuries for the hosts.
Form Guide
Encouragingly for the South Walians, the Liberty has not been a happy hunting ground for the Cottagers. The South London club have only won two of their previous ten visits to Swansea.
A win for the Swans would see them overtake Fulham in third place. Three points would put further pressure on the top-two placed teams West Brom and Leeds, who play later in the week.
The match will be refereed by James Linington, who has handed out three red cards and 37 yellow cards in the Championship this season.
